Slip guard

ABSTRACT

A traction device that can be removably affixed to the bottom of footgear or which can be permanently installed in the bottom of the footgear a slip guard comprising a plate that can be affixed to the sole of footgear and a traction plate that can be removably affixed to the plate. The plate can be semi-permanently affixed to the bottom of the shoe by means of adhesive tape and the traction plate can be affixed to the plate by hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro. In a permanent embodiment the traction plate can be molded into the bottom of the footgear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to removable devices that can beaffixed to footgear to provide better traction in slippery conditions.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,208 to Dye discloses a circular friction padaffixed to the bottom of a shoe by a rivet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,401 toMcDonnold discloses spaced side by side elongated traction members snapclamped to the sole of a shoe and made from a single length of springmetal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,574 to Weisbrick discloses a connector forfootgear and a variety of specific step on devices using flexiblegripping means such as hook and loop fasteners.

[0005] A need exists for a traction device that can be affixed to thebottom of a persons' regular footgear and which can be removed when notneeded such as when entering a building or home. A further need existsfor such a device that can be permanently affixed to the bottom offootgear for use when slippery conditions are routinely encountered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention meets the needs identified above byproviding a slip guard comprising a plate that can be affixed to thesole of footgear and a traction plate that can be removably affixed tothe plate. The plate can be semi-permanently affixed to the bottom ofthe shoe by means of adhesive tape and the traction plate can be affixedto the plate by hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro. In a permanentembodiment the traction plate can be molded into the bottom of thefootgear.

[0007] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustratedin the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers representlike parts of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a view of removable slip guards affixed to the bottom ofa pair of shoes.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a view along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a view of a built-in slip guard affixed to the bottom ofa shoe.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the built in slip guard ofFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] In FIG. 1 slip guard assembly 100 is shown affixed to the bottomof left shoe 10 and right shoe 12. Slip guard assembly 100 is the samefor either a left or right shoe. Slip guard assembly 100 has panel 20,plate 30, tab 40 and a plurality of spikes 32. In FIG. 1, one hundredand thirty two spikes 32 are shown on plate 30. It should be understoodthat any number of spikes can be utilized and that the optimum number ofspikes to be used is within the ordinary skill of a person skilled inthe art. Such an optimum number of spikes would be in the range betweenat least one spike 32 to the maximum number of spikes 32 that could beaffixed within a 2 inch diameter circle. In the preferred embodiment,plate 30 has a diameter of 2 inches and a thickness of 0.020 inches.Plate 30 is made from metal or impact-resistant plastic. Persons skilledin the art will be aware that the diameter and thickness can varydepending on the material used and the size of the footgear to whichplate 30 is to be attached. Tab 40 is utilized to pull plate 30 offpanel 20. When plate 30 is removed from panel 20, a panel cover (notshown) may be affixed to panel 20. The panel cover would have a wearresistant surface on one side and hook and loop fasteners on the otherside. The panel cover would be affixed to panel 20 by engaging the panelcover hook and loop fasteners (not shown) with the panel hook and loopfasteners 26.

[0013]FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.Panel 20 has panel footgear side 27 and panel traction device side 28.Adhesive tape 22 has tape panel side 23 and tape footgear side 21. Bothtape panel side 23 and tape footgear side 21 have adhesive affixed.Adhesive tape 22 is affixed to panel footgear side 27 of panel 20. Tapefootgear side 21 is affixed to footgear 11. Plate 30 has bottom side 37and fastener side 35. Hook and loop fastener 36 is affixed to fastenerside 35. A plurality of spikes 32 are affixed to bottom side 37 of plate30. Spikes 32 may be created by diamond cutting bottom side 37 of plate30. Spikes 32 may be pyramidal in shape. Alternatively, spikes 32 may beconical in shape. Alternatively, spikes 32 may be molded into plate 30.Persons skilled in the art will be aware of multiple ways to affixspikes 32 to plate 30. Plate 30 is affixed to shoe 11 by engaging hookand loop fasteners 36 of plate 30 with hook and loop fasteners 26 ofpanel 20.

[0014]FIG. 3 depicts slip guard assembly 200 having plate 40 embedded insole 16 of shoe 14. Slip guard assembly 200 is an alternative embodimentof slip guard assembly 100.

[0015]FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of embedded plate 40 in solebody 15 of shoe 14 (see FIG. 3). Embedded Plate 40 has first annularring 44, groove 47 and second annular ring 46 embedded in sole body 15.Embedded plate 40 has embedded plate surface 41 which lies in the sameplane as sole 16. Embedded plate spikes 42 function the same as spikes32 in slip guard assembly 100 ((FIGS. 1 and 2). Spikes 42 may be createdby diamond cutting bottom side 41 of plate 42. Spikes 42 may bepyramidal in shape. Alternatively, spikes 42 may be conical in shape.Alternatively, spikes 42 may be molded into plate 40.

[0016] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realizedthat the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of theinvention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readilyapparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalentrelationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in thespecification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for improving the traction of footgearcomprising: a plate having a top, a bottom, a lower annular ring, asurface annular ring and a groove located between said lower annularring and said surface annular ring; and a plurality of spikes fixedlyattached to said top.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 firther comprising asole having a sole surface and a sole body; wherein said sole body ismolded around said circular plate so that said top lies in the sameplane with said sole surface.
 3. The spikes of claim 1 wherein saidspikes are pyramidal in shape.
 4. The spikes of claim 1 wherein saidspikes are conical in shape.
 5. The spikes of claim 1 wherein saidspikes are cut from said top in a diamond pattern.
 6. An apparatus forimproving the traction of footgear comprising: an adhesive panel with afootgear side and a traction device side; a plate having a bottom sideand a fastener side wherein the fastener side has a plurality of hookand loop fasteners; a plate having a top and a bottom; a plurality ofspikes fixedly attached to said top; a plurality of hook and loopfasteners fixedly attached to said bottom; wherein said plain side ofsaid plate is affixed to said footgear by footgear side of said adhesivetape; and wherein said fastener side of said plate mates with saidbottom of said plate.
 7. The spikes of claim 6 wherein said spikes arepyramidal in shape.
 8. The spikes of claim 6 wherein said spikes areconical in shape.
 9. The spikes of claim 6 wherein said spikes are cutfrom said top in a diamond pattern.